The Year 17 (1928) Auto dollar from China’s Kweichow Province is
probably the most famous commemorative Chinese coin of the 20th century.

The coin celebrates an era when road construction wasn’t just
another hassle of day-to-day life, but rather something to celebrate.

The silver dollar was issued by Kweichow Governor Chow Hsi Chien to
celebrate the first (paved, presumably) road in the province. The
automobile on the obverse of the coin is reportedly the governor’s own automobile.

Examples are frequently sold in auctions around the world, so it is
by no means an unobtainable rarity (it had a mintage of 648,000
pieces, after all).

An example sold by Heritage during the Chicago International Coin
Fair April 10 to 12, 2014, is graded Extremely Fine 40 by Numismatic
Guaranty Corp. It sold for $6,462.50, in line with recent prices
realized for other examples, indicating continued interest in this
famous type.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.